The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-10-25

me nothing. What conclusion could /
arrive at but that the touch was super
natural?
Twice upon the street | was con-
scious of the same strange touch, in
broad daylight. when no deception was
possible. Unable to fathom the mys-
terry. | waited curiou<y, yet not with
out misgivings, to see what it por-
tended.
"One evening, while | was seated at
the desk, DIR. Earle called; an aged
gentleman, in whose conversation
take great pleasure. Seating him COM
fCrtably in my easiest chair, excused
myself a moment while completing
letter begun before his arrival. j had
called Laura. but she had not vet come
down. Without the slightest warning,
as had always been the case, the same
hand was placed upon my shoulder.
No longer gentle. il gripped me firmly,
as if strong man had grasped the
flesh and squeezed it. Panied, amazed,
eager to see what this now phase of
the mystery meant. L whirled about
with arms extended. There was moth.
ing behind me. DIR. Earle was quietly
seated on the opposite side of the
room. CHANGING over the daily paper.
Doctor said /, conscious that my
face was red with shame, Il suppose
you think me craZy?'
"'Crazy?' repeated the doctor, eye
ing me curiously over his glasses.
What could | say? What explana-
ton could L make? | determined to
tell him the whole story, hoping TO find
some parallel for it in his long expe-
renee "a II physician. Drawing my
char close TO him, / recited every in
cident connected with the mysterious
touch as clearly and cOnnectedly as
could. He was interested from the
beginning. When l had finished he
looked carefully about the room. ST.
lently regarded me with an expression
partly humorous, partly puzzled, and
then observed:
"'Will you please take off your cOatP'
al did so.
'''Roil up your Sleeves he cOntin-
ued.
81 did so, wondering at the meaning
of SO remarkable procedure. Was il
one of the old gentleman's droll con-
ceits? He grasped my shoulder and
squeezed it, drawing from me cry of
pain.
Might after night he sagely re-
marked. frOwning. you have sat by
this screen. Cool, moist air has blown
on your shoulder for hours at time.
What other results could have been ex-
pected?'
Pray. doctor. what is the result?' i
asked. eagerly.
rheumatism was the sententious
reply:
land the soft, spirit-like toueh2'
"'Was merely the twitching of a
muscle. The soft. spirit-like stage has
passed. and the fire and gimlet stage
comes next, unless you learn wisdom
81 could have embraced the old gen.
tleman in my transports. With glee-
full hop. skip and jump i ran to the
door.
Laura Laurar called.
1.-The poor creature came running
down the stairs as if fiend was after
her.
"'What has happened?' she gasped. |
cdr. Earle has found our ghost |
cried.
".Where is it?'
"sIn his ARM answered the doctor.
MY dear madam. your husband is the
first man ever met that laughed when |
/ told him that he had rheumatism. |
hope he may continue to laugh
"'Better rheumatism than a ghost |
in the house, doctor. l ventured TO say.
Hum? l don't know, sir. Of the |
two, believe ghosts are the easiest |
disposed Of
"'Our ghost is very effectively laid
said Laura, helping me on with my
coat and smiling at the doctor.
alt only illustrates my theory, said |
l. No so-called supernatural occur
rences will bear the light of investiga-
ton
mot so with rheumatism observed |
the doctor. dryly. 1T will bear the
light, and it thrives on night air. Any
body can take it; but few can get rid of |
it
The old gentleman was right; l
have it yet. My opinion has under
gone change. Given my choice be-
tween rheumatism and ghost in the
4ouse, would gladly welcome the
ghost III ID. Mason, in Pittsburgh !
Bulletin.
-''Great Caesar, Smith, said the
editor of the society paper To his as